Salem is brand of cigarettes introduced by the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company as the first filter-tipped menthol cigarette in 1956. Its name derives from the place Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where RJR was founded and headquartered.For decades Salem was among the best-selling cigarette brands in the US. Since 1956 Salem cigarettes dominated the menthol category becoming one of the best-selling cigarettes in the world. In the late 1960s, the brand's slogan (sung to music in television and radio commercials prior to their prohibition on January 1, 1971) was "You can take Salem out of the country, but...you can't take the country out of Salem."

Later, the slogan "Springtime... it happens every Salem" was used.

The packaging for Salem was significantly revised in the late 1990s, with the addition of Black Labels which had sliding packs, and the inclusion of a single cigarette with a dark green filter, appropriately called "The Lucky" after the tradition of flipping the first cigarette in the box upside down and smoking it last.

There are now two main varieties of Salem: Green Label and Black Label. The Green Label is marketed as being more smooth-tasting, while the Black Label is said to be stronger or "harsher" tasting.